NORWICH, Conn. – Sophomore 1B Bobby Melley and freshman SS Aaron Hill both collected two hits and an RBI in the first game of the 2014 College Baseball Classic, but the Huskies fell, 7-2, to Bryant at Dodd Stadium in Norwich, Conn. on Friday. With the loss, UConn drops to 13-14 on the year while the Bulldogs jump up to 16-8.

Anthony Marzi (Berlin, Conn.) took the hill for his team-leading eighth start of the year, but only lasted 4.1 innings as the senior lefty surrendered six runs on six hits, issuing three walks and registering four strikeouts. Kevin McAvoy tossed a gem for the Bulldogs, throwing 8.0 innings of two-run ball. The junior righty allowed just five hits and recorded three punch-outs.

The Bulldogs pushed across the game’s first two runs in the top of the first, taking advantage of three walks and a pair of hit batters.

The Huskies grabbed a run back in the home half of the second inning, capitalizing on a two-out double from Nico Darras (Laguna Beach, Calif.). Hill (Groton, Conn.) delivered an RBI single to right center to cut the Bryant lead to 2-1.

The Huskies threatened in the fourth, loading the bases with one out after Hill picked up his second hit of the afternoon, but a 6-6-3 double play erased the Husky threat and kept Bryant in control, 2-1.

A four-run fifth inning chased Marzi from the game as senior LHP Brian Ward (Milford, Conn.) made his way into the game to replace the Husky starter and keep the game at 6-1. Ward, who was making just his second relief appearance pitched well, throwing 4.2 innings, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out two.

UConn grabbed a run back in the fifth inning as Bryan Daniello (Norwalk, Conn.) scampered across on an RBI single from Melley (Barnstable, Mass.), who earned his seventh multi-hit game in his last eight starts.

The Huskies couldn’t scratch across another run after the fifth. The Bulldogs out-hit the Huskies, 10-to-5, on the afternoon.

The Huskies return to Dodd Stadium on Saturday, April 5 when they challenge Stony Brook at 4 p.m. Anthony Kay is set to take the mound for the Huskies in his third start of 2014.

Game Notes

- UConn is now 4-2 all-time vs. Bryant in a series that dates back to 2009.

- Melley has recorded multi-hit games in seven of his last eight games.